Jet Chamber II

Like a movie sequel that's basically a retread of the original, there's a definite "been there, done that" feel to the second entry in Pete Namlook & Atom Heart's Jet Chamber series of collaborative improvisations, but like the best movie sequels, there's just enough of a changeup in Jet Chamber II to keep it from becoming redundant. Where Namlook was clearly in control of 1995's Jet Chamber, Jet Chamber II is more of a showcase for his beat-making partner. Atom Heart is all over this album, making up for his subdued presence on its predecessor by creating a strange array of whirring, clicking, and chattering beats under Namlook's trademark Krautrock-inspired synths. The first and last of the three extended tracks, the 18-and-a-half-minute "Inner Rotation" and the nearly 27-minute "Outer Rotation," are driven by Atom Heart's beats and loops, with the latter track reaching moments of sheer atonality about two-thirds of the way through. In contrast, the aptly titled 17-minute "Calm Box" is almost all Namlook, a close relation to the sublime "Split Wide" from Jet Chamber, though with a slightly more structured and less amorphous feel akin to parts of Brian Eno's Discreet Music, Rovi